lunes, 18 de febrero de 2013
martes, 5 de febrero de 2013
A COUPLE MORE MISTAKES
QUICK VS. FAST: (Elementary to Intermediate)
The first (and maybe most important) difference is grammatical. Quick is an adjective. The comparative and superlative are quicker and quickest. The adverb is quickly and its comparative and superlative are more quickly and most quickly. (Some speaker use the adjective instead of the adverb when they speak.)
On the other hand, fast is both an adjective and an adverb. The comparative and superlative of both are faster and fastest.
E.g. Let’s do a quick test.
E.g. Get you pen quickly and sit down again.
E.g. He is a fast learner.
E.g. He learns fast.
The difference in meaning is not very big. In most situations quick and fast and also quickly and fast have the same meaning. Fast is a shorter word and maybe a little more common because we are lazy about using a longer word if there is a short one.
However, in certain situations, one word may be more common than the other because they form special partnerships with other words. This is called collocation.
E.g. the fast lane – the part of a road such as a motorway designed for cars to move quickly.
You need to learn collocations when you meet them, bit by bit.
Quick identifies doing things in a short period of time while fast indicates speed.
EVERY VS. ALL: (Elementary to Intermediate)
All and every can both be used to talk about people or things in general. There is little difference of meaning. Note that these two words are used in different structures.
Every is used with singular countable nouns. To give the same meaning, all is used with plural nouns.
The first (and maybe most important) difference is grammatical. Quick is an adjective. The comparative and superlative are quicker and quickest. The adverb is quickly and its comparative and superlative are more quickly and most quickly. (Some speaker use the adjective instead of the adverb when they speak.)
On the other hand, fast is both an adjective and an adverb. The comparative and superlative of both are faster and fastest.
E.g. Let’s do a quick test.
E.g. Get you pen quickly and sit down again.
E.g. He is a fast learner.
E.g. He learns fast.
The difference in meaning is not very big. In most situations quick and fast and also quickly and fast have the same meaning. Fast is a shorter word and maybe a little more common because we are lazy about using a longer word if there is a short one.
However, in certain situations, one word may be more common than the other because they form special partnerships with other words. This is called collocation.
E.g. the fast lane – the part of a road such as a motorway designed for cars to move quickly.
You need to learn collocations when you meet them, bit by bit.
Quick identifies doing things in a short period of time while fast indicates speed.
EVERY VS. ALL: (Elementary to Intermediate)
All and every can both be used to talk about people or things in general. There is little difference of meaning. Note that these two words are used in different structures.
Every is used with singular countable nouns. To give the same meaning, all is used with plural nouns.
- All children need love.
- Every child needs love.
With Determiners
All can be used with determiners. Every cannot normally be used with them.- All the lights were out.
- Every light was out. (NOT Every the light…)
- I have invited all (of) my friends.
- I have invited every friend I have. (NOT …every my friend.)
With Uncountable Nouns
We can use all with uncountable nouns. Every cannot be used with them.- I like all music. (NOT …every music.)
viernes, 28 de diciembre de 2012
FURTHER MISTAKES
Pronunciation of "steak" (All levels):
It is not pronounced /stik/ but /stéik/
Past Simple vs. Present Perfect (In theory, Intermediate. In fact, All levels!):
In Spanish, the difference in use between the past simple and the present perfect is simply that the past simple is used for a "distant past" and the present perfect for a "recent past" (according to most Spanish students!).
In English the differences are stricter. In case of use of a specific past time reference,
e.g. "This morning", "an hour ago", "in 1984", "yesterday"
we must use the past simple!
e.g. "I had coffee for breakfast this morning"
Not
"I've had coffee for breakfast this morning."
Exception! With since and for we use the present perfect with specific past time references! Why? because they indicate a period of time that goes upto the present!
e.g. "I've had coffee at Gino's since 2004" or "I've had coffee at Gino's for the last 8 years:" Meaning: I had coffee at gino's in 2004/ 8 years ago and continuously thereafter (repeatedly until the present!). Therefore I still have coffee at Gino's nowadays!
If we make a reference to the past without a specific past time reference we generally use the present perfect!
e.g. "I've been in England twice." So, for example, I went to England in 1994 and 2005 and, as I am still alive the possibility of going back exists! Therefore, we are referring to finished actions in the past with no specific past time reference but with the possibility of repetition in the present or future.
For more in depth information and exercises watch this short video and visit the following websites:
Explanation:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast.htm
It is not pronounced /stik/ but /stéik/
Past Simple vs. Present Perfect (In theory, Intermediate. In fact, All levels!):
In Spanish, the difference in use between the past simple and the present perfect is simply that the past simple is used for a "distant past" and the present perfect for a "recent past" (according to most Spanish students!).
In English the differences are stricter. In case of use of a specific past time reference,
e.g. "This morning", "an hour ago", "in 1984", "yesterday"
we must use the past simple!
e.g. "I had coffee for breakfast this morning"
Not
"
Exception! With since and for we use the present perfect with specific past time references! Why? because they indicate a period of time that goes upto the present!
e.g. "I've had coffee at Gino's since 2004" or "I've had coffee at Gino's for the last 8 years:" Meaning: I had coffee at gino's in 2004/ 8 years ago and continuously thereafter (repeatedly until the present!). Therefore I still have coffee at Gino's nowadays!
If we make a reference to the past without a specific past time reference we generally use the present perfect!
e.g. "I've been in England twice." So, for example, I went to England in 1994 and 2005 and, as I am still alive the possibility of going back exists! Therefore, we are referring to finished actions in the past with no specific past time reference but with the possibility of repetition in the present or future.
For more in depth information and exercises watch this short video and visit the following websites:
Explanation:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast.htm
MORE FALSE FRIENDS
Library:
It is a place where you can borrow books among other things not where you buy books!
Librería is Bookshop in English.
It is a place where you can borrow books among other things not where you buy books!
Librería is Bookshop in English.
viernes, 7 de diciembre de 2012
FALSE FRIENDS:
Topic:
Topic does not mean
Large:
Large does not mean
Constipated:
Being Constipated does not mean
Salad:
Salad is NOT salado. salado is savoury!
Actually:
Actually does not mean "
Furthermore, it is not pronounced
The number of false friends so far is limited on my blog as I'm actually only adding the ones I come across while teaching! Please feel free to add any you come across in the comment section! Thank you!
lunes, 26 de noviembre de 2012
COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS!
I'll update this section whenever I encounter a typical mistake made by English language students.
Pronunciation of aren't, weren't (All levels):
They are not pronounced:
/árent/, /wérent/
They are pronounced:
/a:(r)nt/, /we:(r)nt/
Use of haven't (Intermediate level+):
NEVER use haven't to indicate a lack of possession
eg.I haven't a Ferrari.
This is 100% WRONG. "Haven't" is a negative auxiliary verb, NEVER a main verb.
We only use "haven't" for: negative perfect tense sentences
e.g. I haven't had a beer for two hours.
Have got
e.g. I haven't got any money
and short answers to perfect tenses or have got
e.g. Have you been to Dublin? No, I haven't or Have you got a cigarette? No, I haven't
Pronunciation of -ed (All levels):
The pronunciation of regular verbs in the past simple or past participle is basic for the vast majority of verb tenses in the English language. Follow this link and find out how to say them!
-ed pron rules:
http://www.azargrammar.com/assets/intermediate/FEGTeacher-CreatedWorksheets/Worksheets2/FEGCh2PronunciationRegularPastTenseVerbs.pdf
-ed pron. exercises:
http://www.autoenglish.org/gr.edpron.pdf
Questions (All levels):
For obvious reasons English language learners tend to make questions in a statement form, e.g. You've seen that?, which is actually correct when you already know the answer, i.e.in rhetorical questions. However, if you want to pass an exam you should take into account the following formats:
For more detailed explanations and exercises on subject questions check the following links:
http://esl.about.com/library/intermediatecourse/blintermediate_course_gr_questionforms.htm
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_questionforms_subob.htm
Position of adverbs and adjectives (All levels):
Eventhough it is a really basic mistake I have had advanced students confusing the position of adjectives and adverbs when speaking! Check the following links for explanations and practice:
http://www.englishforums.com/content/lessons/adjectives-adverbs-and-word-order.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/adjektiv_adverb.htm
I am agree/ disagree is WRONG (All levels):
The correct form is simply
I agree or I disagree
Make vs. do (All levels):
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/doormake.htm
Embedded Questions (Intermediate level+):
When we use a question word, i.e. Wh- word, in a statement or after the question clause we use the affirmative form and not the question form, for example:
NOTThe reason why am I telling you this is... but
The reason why I am telling tou this is...
NOT Do you know why do I like beer? but
Do you know why I like beer?
You have reason (All Levels):
"You have reason" does not exist in the English language! The right way of expressing you think someone is correct in their statement is:
You are right!
People is... (All levels):
People, is a countable plural of person! Hence we say
People are...
Organisizes (All levels):
/Or-gá-ni-sai-ziz/ is not the right pronunciation for organizes! The right pronunciation is:
/ór-ga-nai-ziz/
Specially vs Especially (All levels):
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000287.htm
For vs while vs during (Intermediate level and higher):
Explanation:
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/prepositions_for_while_during.htm
Exercises:
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep4.htm
Pronunciation of "Island" (All levels):
It is NOT pronounced
/Ais-land/
but /Ai-land/
Pronunciation of -le (Elementary to intermediate):
-le is not pronounced
/-le/
but
/-el/
Like in castle, little, example, etc.
Pronunciation of aren't, weren't (All levels):
They are not pronounced:
/árent/, /wérent/
They are pronounced:
/a:(r)nt/, /we:(r)nt/
Use of haven't (Intermediate level+):
NEVER use haven't to indicate a lack of possession
eg.
This is 100% WRONG. "Haven't" is a negative auxiliary verb, NEVER a main verb.
We only use "haven't" for: negative perfect tense sentences
e.g. I haven't had a beer for two hours.
Have got
e.g. I haven't got any money
and short answers to perfect tenses or have got
e.g. Have you been to Dublin? No, I haven't or Have you got a cigarette? No, I haven't
Pronunciation of -ed (All levels):
The pronunciation of regular verbs in the past simple or past participle is basic for the vast majority of verb tenses in the English language. Follow this link and find out how to say them!
-ed pron rules:
http://www.azargrammar.com/assets/intermediate/FEGTeacher-CreatedWorksheets/Worksheets2/FEGCh2PronunciationRegularPastTenseVerbs.pdf
-ed pron. exercises:
http://www.autoenglish.org/gr.edpron.pdf
Questions (All levels):
For obvious reasons English language learners tend to make questions in a statement form, e.g. You've seen that?, which is actually correct when you already know the answer, i.e.in rhetorical questions. However, if you want to pass an exam you should take into account the following formats:
For more detailed explanations and exercises on subject questions check the following links:
http://esl.about.com/library/intermediatecourse/blintermediate_course_gr_questionforms.htm
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_questionforms_subob.htm
Position of adverbs and adjectives (All levels):
Eventhough it is a really basic mistake I have had advanced students confusing the position of adjectives and adverbs when speaking! Check the following links for explanations and practice:
http://www.englishforums.com/content/lessons/adjectives-adverbs-and-word-order.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/adjektiv_adverb.htm
I am agree/ disagree is WRONG (All levels):
The correct form is simply
I agree or I disagree
Make vs. do (All levels):
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/doormake.htm
Embedded Questions (Intermediate level+):
When we use a question word, i.e. Wh- word, in a statement or after the question clause we use the affirmative form and not the question form, for example:
NOT
The reason why I am telling tou this is...
NOT
Do you know why I like beer?
You have reason (All Levels):
"You have reason" does not exist in the English language! The right way of expressing you think someone is correct in their statement is:
You are right!
People is... (All levels):
People, is a countable plural of person! Hence we say
People are...
Organisizes (All levels):
/ór-ga-nai-ziz/
Specially vs Especially (All levels):
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000287.htm
For vs while vs during (Intermediate level and higher):
Explanation:
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/prepositions_for_while_during.htm
Exercises:
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep4.htm
Pronunciation of "Island" (All levels):
It is NOT pronounced
/Ais-land/
but /Ai-land/
Pronunciation of -le (Elementary to intermediate):
-le is not pronounced
/
but
/-el/
Like in castle, little, example, etc.
domingo, 25 de noviembre de 2012
INTERCAMBIO DE IDIOMAS GRATUITO
¡El intercambio es totalmente gratuito y se centra en hablar en inglés y español con nativos! Se celebra los martes de 21.00-23.30 en "Guilligan's tavern" en Calle de la Aviación Española, 3, a dos minutos andando del metro Islas Filipinas.
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